The Swiss who guard the Pope visit unlikely this year Autor(en): Farmer, Colin Objekttyp: Article Zeitschrift: The Swiss observer : the journal of the Federation of Swiss Societies in the UK Band (Jahr): - (1981) Heft 1779 PDF erstellt am: 06.10.2021 Persistenter Link: http://doi.org/10.5169/seals-687728 Nutzungsbedingungen Die ETH-Bibliothek ist Anbieterin der digitalisierten Zeitschriften. Sie besitzt keine Urheberrechte an den Inhalten der Zeitschriften. Die Rechte liegen in der Regel bei den Herausgebern. Die auf der Plattform e-periodica veröffentlichten Dokumente stehen für nicht-kommerzielle Zwecke in Lehre und Forschung sowie für die private Nutzung frei zur Verfügung. Einzelne Dateien oder Ausdrucke aus diesem Angebot können zusammen mit diesen Nutzungsbedingungen und den korrekten Herkunftsbezeichnungen weitergegeben werden. Das Veröffentlichen von Bildern in Print- und Online-Publikationen ist nur mit vorheriger Genehmigung der Rechteinhaber erlaubt. Die systematische Speicherung von Teilen des elektronischen Angebots auf anderen Servern bedarf ebenfalls des schriftlichen Einverständnisses der Rechteinhaber. Haftungsausschluss Alle Angaben erfolgen ohne Gewähr für Vollständigkeit oder Richtigkeit. Es wird keine Haftung übernommen für Schäden durch die Verwendung von Informationen aus diesem Online-Angebot oder durch das Fehlen von Informationen. Dies gilt auch für Inhalte Dritter, die über dieses Angebot zugänglich sind. Ein Dienst der ETH-Bibliothek ETH Zürich, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zürich, Schweiz, www.library.ethz.ch http://www.e-periodica.ch The Swiss who guard the Pope By Colin Farmer ONLY one week before the least 140 men died covering the dramatic attempt on his life, Pope flight of Pope Clement from the John Paul II warned members of Vatican. Since 1927 they have his Swiss Guard that they might been the only Swiss allowed to one day have to sacrifice their serve in any foreign army. own lives in order to save him. Members of the Guard have to Celebrating a special mass for be of Swiss nationality, Roman newly-recruited members of the Catholic, single and at least centuries old Guard, the Pope 174cm (5ft 9in) in height. told them: "Some of your pre- Recruits have to be 19 to 25 years decessors were called upon to of age. Minimum length of ser- sacrifice their lives in the fulfil- vice is two years and the basic tax- ment of their duties. Let us pray free salary equals about Sfr 1,200 that the Lord may keep violence (nearly £300) a month. and fanaticism far from the Food and accommodation is Vatican walls. But the readiness free and members also receive a to give life may become reality, 13th month's salary, a bonus after also during your service ." every complete year of service, No members of the Swiss and extra payments for special Guard were injured in the assas- duties. sination attempt on the Pope. But These days the Swiss Guards they were only a few feet away are a big tourist attraction, keep- and were among the first to rush ing the curious out of the Vatican to his aid after he was shot. gates, accompanying the Pope According to Guard Com- wherever he goes (four would mander Franz Pfyffer: "It is have escorted him on his visit to impossible to protect Pope John Switzerland) and lending their Paul II. He is a man of the people colourful presence to a variety of and he wants the closest possible ceremonies. contact with the public." They are still dressed in the On the afternoon of the attack billowy yellow, orange and blue on his life 45 Swiss Guards were uniforms designed for them by on duty. The crowd was Michelangelo four centuries ago. estimated at 30,000. According to Commander The Guards are the sole sur- Pfyffer, who has served at the vivors of Swiss mercenary mili- Vatican for eight years: "The tary units that played a notable Pope will not allow us to carry role in European warfare from real weapons." But the Swiss the 14th to the 19th century. The Guards are believed to be armed corps was instituted by Pope with teargas. Julius II in 1505 and recruited ori- In this age of intercontinental ginally from the founding cantons ballistics the Pope's army looks of the Swiss Confederation. like something on its way to a Now it recruits from many costume ball. But tradition out- other cantons as well, although weighs any other considerations. most come from the Valais, And its doubtful that the millions Lucerne and St. Gallen. of tourists who flock to see the At full strength the Guard has Swiss Guards would stand for 100 members; currently it has 92. drastic change in the uniforms or Centuries ago the corps was weaponry of the world's smallest, much bigger, and in 1527 - when most old-fashioned and most the Austrians invaded Rome-at photographed army. The Guards are always a popular tourist attraction 4 Visit unlikely this year POPE John Paul II - still recover- United Nations officials, youth Office had prepared a special 300 non-Roman Catholic ing from the May 13 attempt on delegates and foreign workers. franking stamp. Churches worldwide - prayed his life in Rome - is unlikely to Open-air masses in German, A Swiss record company had that the Pope would soon be able make his delayed visit to Switzer- French and Italian had been plan- pressed thousands of special to continue "his universal ministry land before the end of this year. ned. souvenir LPs. And a fleet of heli- of love and peace." Even if the Pope continues his More than a thousand journa- copters had been hired to fly the Swiss and Austrian press lists from the world Pope and his from indicated that Turkish ex- satisfactory recovery, a tight sehe- throughout entourage reports had been the dule of other engagements would expected to cover venue to venue. tremist Mehmet Ali Agca may and Switzerland there have Switzer- now almost certainly prevent him visit, extensive arrangements Throughout travelled through from making his Swiss tour to provide international tele- was widespread shock at the land on his way to Rome to shoot the life. Presi- Paul. Swiss during 1981. The indications are communications links were attempt on Pope's Pope John A govern- well advanced. dent that the visit could now take place already Kurt Furgler immediately ment statement said there was no Many had sent a telegram behalf of the evidence this, but did next year, possibly in spring or private enterprises on to prove not Swiss summer. also invested vast sums of money government. exclude the possibility that Agca in commercialisation of the Protestant leaders who were may have entered Switzerland The Pope was to have flown to - Pope's visit. In Einsiedeln where to have met the Pontiff at a major with false documents or by- Switzerland 31 for six- - on May a the Pope was to have spent two inter-faith encounter expressed passed border checkpoints. day visit. - days - souvenirs were already on "deep shock and concern that And the government con- Extensive preparations had sale, and one publisher alone had violence does not spare even this firmed that the gun used in the already been made for the Papal already printed 36,000 special ambassador of peace." Switzer- assassination attempt had been tour, which was to have covered postcards. land's three million Roman traded in Switzerland. An official Lugano, Einsiedeln, Solothurn, A Lucerne coin dealer had Catholics, stunned at the shoot- Swiss statement said the weapon Fribourg and Geneva. He was to ordered the minting of more than ing, were immediately called to had been "legally imported from have met all seven members of 8,000 commemorative medal- prayer. Belgium, legally traded in Switzer- the Swiss government, Catholic lions worth from Sfr 50 to Sfr And the Geneva-based World land, and legally exported again and Protestant church leaders, 1,250 each. The Swiss Post Council of Churches - uniting to Austria." 5.